Sail Sail, n. [OE. seil, AS. segel, segl; akin to D. zeil,
OHG. segal, G. & Sw. segel, Icel. segl, Dan. seil. [root]
153.]
1. An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the
wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels
through the water.
[1913 Webster]

Note: Sails are of two general kinds, {fore-and-aft sails},
and {square sails}. Square sails are always bent to
yards, with their foot lying across the line of the
vessel. Fore-and-aft sails are set upon stays or gaffs
with their foot in line with the keel. A fore-and-aft
sail is triangular, or quadrilateral with the after
leech longer than the fore leech. Square sails are
quadrilateral, but not necessarily square. See Phrases
under {Fore}, a., and {Square}, a.; also, {Bark},
{Brig}, {Schooner}, {Ship}, {Stay}.
[1913 Webster]

square-rigged — [skwer′rigd′] adj. rigged with square sails as the principal sails … English World dictionary

square sail — Naut. a sail set beneath a horizontal yard, the normal position of which, when not trimmed to the wind, is directly athwartships. See diag. under sail. [1590 1600] * * * simplest form of rigging and the most ancient. The sails are attached… … Universalium

Square rig — is a generic type of sail and rigging arrangement in which the primary driving sails are carried on horizontal spars which are perpendicular, or [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/square#Adjective square] , to the keel of the vessel and to the masts … Wikipedia

Square-rigged — (skw[^a]r r[i^]gd ), a. (Naut.) Having the sails extended upon yards suspended horizontally by the middle, as distinguished from fore and aft sails; thus, a ship and a brig are square rigged vessels. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English